Detailed Summary: Fire & Ice - English Class 10

DETAILED SUMMARY

‘Fire and Ice’ is a symbolic poem by Robert Frost. The poet wants to aware the humanity that everything will end one day as a result of human misdeeds’. The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. The fire of violent desires will put the world to an end. If the world had to perish twice then it will be-perished by-.  the hatred between man and man. Ice has been presented as a symbol of hatred.

Detailed Summary (2)

1. End of the World: It is certain that this world will come to an end. The poet shares the belief of the people that everything that exists now will end sooner or later. The poet deals with a very sublime subject — the end of the world.
2. Two Different Beliefs: The poet talks about the two different beliefs regarding the end of this material world. Some say that this world will ‘end in the fire’. The world will be reduced to a fireball in the end. There are others who think that this world will end in ice, freezing all kinds of life into death and destruction.
3. Poet’s View: The poet sides with those who believe that this world will end in fire. The poet links these two very powerful elements of nature to human emotions and human behaviour. ‘Fire’ is a symbol of human passions.
The fire also stands for unbridled desires. Uncontrolled passions of love and desire will be the cause of the destruction of this world. Uncontrolled fire and untamed passionate desires will certainly bring an end of this world. The poet confesses that he himself has ‘tasted of desire’. So, he is quite aware of the potential of unbridled passion and fire of the love of causing death and destruction.
4. ‘Ice’ Represents ‘Hate’ or ‘Cold’ Reason: No doubt, ‘fire’ can bring an end of this world. But if this world has to be destroyed twice, then Ice’ can serve that purpose `Ice’ represents a dialectical emotion that is opposite to ‘fire’. It represents ‘hate’. This ‘hate’ is not the product of an outburst for revenge. On the other hand, it stands for cold and ice reasoning. The poet compares the nature of ice with hatred. Ice benumbs. So is cold and calculated reasoning. ‘Hate’ born of cold reasoning, makes a man insensitive to feelings. Hatred can make our minds numb. Cold thoughts and reasoning make us, insensitive and cruel. So, the poet thinks that ‘ice’ or ‘hate’ can be a great and strong cause for the destruction of this world. ‘Ice’ or hatred will ‘suffice’ to bring an end of this world.

Main Points of the Poem 

1. The poet feels that this world of ours will come to an end.
2. He is not very clear when the end will come.
3. He comes to this conclusion on the basis of what people say on this subject.
4. He seems to show his agreement at what people say regarding the ending of the world.
5. On the basis of what people think, the poet believes that this world will come to an end by the two highly contrasting but powerful elements of nature — fire and ice.
6. Either fire or ice or both will be the cause of the ending of the world.
7. Then the poet links these two powerful natural elements to human beings and their emotions.
8. In the first stanza, the poet shows his agreement with those who believe that fire will cause the end of the world.
9. He links the element of fire to the human emotion of desire or passion.
10. The uncontrolled fire of passion and desire may lead us to the end of this world.
11. Then, the poet comes to the second alternative that can cause the end of this world.
12. It is the ‘ice’ which can also cause the end of the world.
13. In terms of human emotion, ice means ‘hate’ created by ‘cold reasoning’.
14. Cool and calculated icy reasoning can lead to hate and can be the cause of the end of this world.
15. The poet himself has experienced both these primal emotions of love as well as hate, fire as well as ice, passions as well as cold reason.
16. He has experienced enough of hate which is born out of icy cold reasoning.
17. In the end, Frost agrees that it doesn’t matter whether it is fire or ice, bo can cause the end of the world.
18. ‘Ice’ or ‘hate’ born out of cold reasoning is quite sufficient for causing the end of the world.